Cronicals of the Abyss

The journey to the ruins was silent, tension hanging heavy between Revan, Kael, and Lyra. The forest surrounding Kaldora grew darker as they ventured deeper, the trees gnarled and twisted as though the land itself was corrupted by the presence of the Abyss. Revan led the way, his senses heightened by the unease gnawing at the edge of his thoughts.

Lyra broke the silence, her voice hushed. "You're certain the ruins are tied to the Abyss?"

Revan nodded, not breaking his stride. "Eryon's journal mentioned an artifact hidden there. The Fragment of the Abyss. If it's true, then this place holds answers."

Kael scoffed, his hand resting on the hilt of his blade. "Or it's a trap waiting to spring. You're putting a lot of faith in a dead boy's scribbles."

Revan stopped, turning to face them. "I don't have a choice. The Covenant is hunting me. If this artifact can give me an edge, I'll take the risk."

Kael sighed, shaking his head. "Fine. Just don't expect me to play hero when everything goes to hell."

Lyra stepped closer to Revan, her gaze searching his. "Whatever we find in there, you can't let it consume you. The Abyss… it takes more than it gives."

"I know," Revan said, though a flicker of doubt crossed his mind.

---

The ruins appeared as a jagged wound in the forest, a broken structure of black stone and crumbling pillars. Time had not been kind to the place, moss and vines covering much of its surface, but an unnatural energy pulsed from within.

"Stay alert," Revan murmured, stepping through the arched entrance.

Inside, the air was colder, carrying a metallic tang that made Lyra shiver. The walls were etched with strange runes that glowed faintly, their meanings lost to time.

"What language is this?" Kael muttered, running his fingers over the carvings.

"Primordial," Lyra said. "It predates most known scripts. These symbols… they're warnings."

"Of what?" Kael asked.

Lyra hesitated, her brow furrowed. "A curse. A barrier between this world and the Abyss."

Revan pressed forward, his Shadow Seal reacting to the presence of the ruins. The mark on his hand pulsed, a faint pain radiating up his arm. It felt like the ruins were alive, watching them, judging them.

The group entered a large chamber, the ceiling high above and the walls lined with decayed statues of faceless figures. At the center was a pedestal, and on it rested a shard of obsidian, its surface swirling with shadows.

"The Fragment of the Abyss," Revan breathed.

Lyra's eyes widened. "Revan, wait. That artifact… it's—"

Before she could finish, the shadows in the chamber shifted, coalescing into humanoid shapes. Abyssal Guardians, creatures born of darkness, emerged from the walls, their forms flickering like flames.

Kael drew his blade. "I knew this was a trap!"

Revan stepped in front of the group, his Shadow Seal flaring to life. "They're protecting the Fragment. If we want it, we'll have to fight."

---

The battle was swift and brutal.

One of the guardians lunged at Revan, its claws slashing through the air. He countered with a burst of shadow energy, tendrils whipping out to ensnare the creature. The Abyssal being writhed, its form distorting as it tried to break free.

Kael engaged another guardian, his sword flashing as he parried its attacks. "These things don't go down easy!" he shouted, ducking under a swipe and driving his blade into the creature's chest.

Lyra stood back, weaving healing and protective seals to support her companions. "Revan, don't lose focus!"

Another guardian charged at her, but Revan intercepted it, his shadow tendrils slamming the creature into the ground. The Fragment pulsed, resonating with his Seal, and he felt a surge of power coursing through him.

The last guardian fell, dissipating into black mist that lingered in the air.

---

Revan approached the pedestal, his breathing heavy. The Fragment seemed to call to him, its whispers echoing in his mind. He reached out, hesitating as Lyra placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Don't touch it. That thing… it's alive."

Revan glanced at her, his expression hard. "If I don't, we'll never know its secrets."

Kael sheathed his blade, scowling. "You're playing with fire, Revan. This won't end well."

Ignoring them, Revan gripped the Fragment. Shadows erupted around him, the force knocking Lyra and Kael back. The room trembled, the runes on the walls glowing brighter as a low hum filled the air.

Visions flooded Revan's mind—scenes of destruction, worlds consumed by the Abyss, and a figure shrouded in darkness, its voice echoing through his thoughts.

"You are marked. Chosen. But will you endure, or will you fall?"

The visions faded, and Revan staggered, the Fragment now fused to his Seal. The room fell silent, the oppressive energy dissipating.

"What just happened?" Lyra asked, helping him steady himself.

Revan stared at his hand, the Shadow Seal now darker, more intricate. "The Abyss… it's given me more power. But it comes with a cost."

Kael snorted. "Of course it does. Let's get out of here before more of those things show up."

---

As they exited the ruins, the forest seemed even darker, the trees whispering in a language only Revan could hear.

Lyra walked beside him, her expression troubled. "Revan, you need to be careful. The Abyss doesn't give freely. It takes pieces of you—your soul, your sanity."

"I know," Revan said quietly. "But I can't stop now. The Eclipse Covenant is after me, and this power might be the only thing that can stop them."

Kael walked ahead, his eyes scanning the shadows. "Let's just hope you don't turn into one of those creatures we fought back there. I'm not in the mood to deal with a shadow monster version of you."

Despite Kael's sarcasm, the warning wasn't lost on Revan. The Abyss had given him strength, but it felt like a noose tightening around his neck.

---

Back in Kaldora, the villagers avoided them, their fear evident. Rumors of the bandit attack and Revan's abilities had already begun to spread, painting him as a harbinger of doom.

Revan stood outside the inn, staring up at the stars. The Fragment pulsed faintly, a reminder of the power now coursing through him.

Lyra joined him, her gaze soft. "You're carrying a heavy burden."

"I don't have a choice," Revan said. "The Abyss is tied to my past, my future. If I don't embrace it, I'll be consumed by it."

Lyra placed a hand on his arm. "Just remember, you're not alone. Kael and I… we're here, even if the path gets darker."

Revan nodded, though he couldn't shake the feeling that the darkness was already closing in.

In the distance, the forest seemed to whisper his name, the Abyss watching and waiting for its next move.